To be worried about prices going up and up and up

[AMAZINWOMAN]

I am getting scared of the way bills are just rising and rising all the time. Fuel is predicted to rise another 40% this year.

Even though I really am good at budgeting, I can't see a way of compromising any more than what we do now. Our only luxury is the internet, (or essential according to kids and their MSN needs!) which I would be reluctant to give up.

I have looked at loads of money saving tips websites, which is what I already do. I am just worried about the way the economy is going

I do that with the offers on nappies!

I ususally do go to the markets - there however our ones like to do 'scoops' for £1 - I usually think oh it's only £1 and buy it then it gets wasted, which isn't good. it's just so expensive for good meat (it butchers) and fresh fruit/veg - even thou I get the healthy voucher thingys.

I find the local grocers cheaper because it is easier to buy small amounts and shopping every few days stops me throwing anything away which we really can't afford, however he had no cauliflowers on friday because they were1.30 at the wholesalers that morning and he couldn't sell them on at a profit.

Jammi - we have a freezer full of reduced meat from the local (very small) supermarket. It does tend to make me more creative in my cooking (sometimes with disasterous results).

DTM - I remember a few years ago when my boss bought a place in Spain, crowing about the cheap fights , I said yeah fine, but the oil is running oput, in a few years there will be no cheap flights. he, and the others looked completely bemnused - he said - disparagingly 'Mrs GG - sometimes i worry about you' Gives me no satisfaction that now he is panicking & trying to sell up - along with many thousands of others who bought cheapo properties on Ryannair routes...

I have started getting some things from Aldi - not as bad as you think you know. Their lasagne is amazing, try it £2.39 and it feeds the whole family (4 of us incl 3 hungey males!)

I have just spent £6 at our local greengrocers on lovely fruit. When I totted it up at Sainsburys it came to £17.00 I know where I'm buying fruit and veg in future!!!

Thats a big difference brambleooks! I went to our local fruit n beg shop Friday and found it more expensive than Tesco, just shows you there are no rules. Bananas were alot more for some reason

We grow most of our own vegetables but had a bad year last year so have run out of things like Onions and Potatoes. To top up I buy them at the local market - it is a lot cheaper than Morrisons and the produce is local.

I bought 6 jacket potatoes in Morrisons last week and it came to £5.68! I get 4 for £1 at the market and they are a better quality.

We were lucky enough to get a big upright freezer on Freecycle - even taking running costs into account that has saved us a lot of money since we had it - buying reduced things, cooking in bulk, freezing veg etc.

Whats freecycle, a website? Sorry for eing thick

freecycle - it's very useful. You should have a local group as there are loads now - well worth joining IMO.